Munition or projectile for battlefield illumination

ABSTRACT

A projectile with several flare bodies, which are eccentrically housed in the body of the projectile and are ignited by at least one delay element for each flare body. The expulsion gases are conveyed from the ogive of the projectile to the delay elements through filler elements that form a channel in the center of the projectile for the expulsion gases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/313,982, filed Nov. 26, 2008, which claims priority of DE 10 2007 057 184, filed Nov. 26, 2007, the priority of these applications is hereby claimed and these are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a munition, a projectile, or the like with several flare bodies for battlefield illumination.

Flare munition for battlefield illumination is either shot from a weapon, e.g., a mortar, (illuminating grenade) or dropped from a missile such as a bomb (illuminating bomb). It consists basically of a slowly burning pyrotechnic material (for example, a magnesium compound), which is expelled from the munition a predetermined time after the munition has been fired, and floats to the ground on a parachute. During its descent, the flare body emits light in the visible and/or infrared wavelength range, thereby illuminating a target or target area.

As is well known, flare projectiles contain a single flare body. The flare body is expelled from the body of the projectile by an expulsion charge after a period of time that can be set in the time fuse. Alternatively, in artillery shells, the base separates during the expulsion, and the submunition is forced out of the body of the projectile by an expulsion plate. The descent of the flare body is then slowed by one or more parachute systems.

DE 28 30 224 C2 describes a projectile with a payload. The payload carried in the projectile is a flare body using a parachute as a brake system.

DE 75 11 529 U1 discloses a flare casing for projectiles, etc. The flare casing is expelled from the body of the projectile during the flight of the projectile with simultaneous ignition of the flare body, and the flame jet of the flare casing floating to the ground on the parachute, escapes downward from the flare casing.

If, in addition, the flare body is one which has pyrotechnic ignition, this has the disadvantage that the pyrotechnic material regularly constitutes a risk, because it can ignite and explode when not intended. In addition, parts that are burning while combustion is taking place during the descent of the flare body can become detached and fall to the earth, which is associated with increased danger of fire, a hazard to persons and the environment, and a decrease in the burn time. If the flare body is designed for infrared illumination of the battlefield, the combustion also necessarily emits visible light, which is precisely what one is trying to prevent in the first place. Finally, the labor involved in the removal and recovery of pyrotechnic material is relatively great.

A flare munition of this type with a flare body expelled from the body of a projectile and suspended on a parachute is already known from the previously unpublished patent application DE 10 2007 048 074.3. The flare body consists essentially of a cylindrical housing and a support plate mounted on the bottom of the housing with a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in an array, which illuminate a battlefield and are suspended on a parachute. The LEDs of the flare body are connected with a power source via an electronic control unit. In this regard, the control unit ensures that power is supplied to the LEDs only after the parachute has opened and only during the subsequent descent phase of the flare body.

A disadvantage here is that in the event of a malfunction of the parachute, the battlefield is not illuminated at all. In weather-related situations, for example, gusty winds, rolling or tumbling movements can occur. This movement of the flare body gives rise to moving shadows, which make it difficult to observe the battlefield. In this case, the flare body can perform its actual function to only a limited extent.

In addition, in the case of artillery projectiles, the diameter of the flare body is comparatively large. As a result, they are also very heavy and necessitate large dimensioning of the parachute. When the projectile base separation occurs, the parachute system can sustain damage as it deploys.

In addition, DE 2 103 672 A1 discloses a multiple charge for illuminating a ground surface or body of water. To this end, a predetermined number of partial charges, each with a charge of pyrotechnic compound and an associated parachute, is held in a cavity of a housing or container. Each partial charge is equipped with a delay powder charge, which is adapted to each respective partial charge. The different partial charges have different delay times; specifically, a partial charge that is expelled from the container before another partial charge has a shorter delay time. The result is successive expulsion of the partial charges from the housing or container into the atmosphere, while the delay times themselves are chosen in such a way that broad scattering of the partial charges in the atmosphere is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from this prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a flare munition with multiple charges that does not have the disadvantages pointed to above.

The invention is likewise based on the idea of placing several flare bodies in a projectile or body of a projectile, where the systems for reducing the rate of descent or the brake systems (such as parachutes, etc.) are made ready to operate by a delay element only after a predetermined flight time and after stabilization. In this regard, it is intended that it be possible to select different delay times for the ignition of the individual flare bodies. The flare bodies can be placed in all types of containers or bodies, such as the bodies of artillery shells. Filler pieces between the flare bodies are to be adapted to the flare bodies and possibly the number of flare bodies as well. The filler pieces or filler elements preferably form a central ignition channel for the ignition of the flare bodies. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the flare bodies inside the projectile bodies, the flare bodies are dispersed far more favorably after their expulsion than previously known systems with a single flare body or multiple flare bodies. This has the further result that the flare bodies are not struck or damaged as much by the base of the projectile.

The form of the flare bodies also makes it possible for them to serve as modules for different projectiles. As a result of the distribution of several flare bodies at several levels in the projectile, better illumination is produced by the simultaneously shining flare bodies.

If the flare bodies are integrated in two or more levels inside the projectile, it makes sense, for example, to vary the delay times of the flare bodies of the different levels. Due to the fact that different delay times can be set, the flare bodies then start to shine at different times. The advantage associated with this is that, when the different delay times are coordinated, the total period of illumination can be increased. In the event of a malfunction of a system for reducing the rate of descent or in the event of an ignition failure, the other flare bodies continue to be functional.

The integration of several flare bodies has the further advantage that, due to the lower mass and size of the individual flare bodies, the systems for reducing the rate of descent no longer have to support such heavy loads. Simpler stabilization mechanisms can be incorporated, which for their part greatly reduce the loads caused by spinning and high velocity, so that simple descent systems can be used. The greater impact of weather conditions that is associated with the weight reduction is compensated by the fact that all of the flare bodies are subject to the tumbling movements associated with gusty conditions, so that the ground surface area to be illuminated is illuminated from several directions, even if the flare bodies are tumbling.

The use of projectiles that are not spin-stabilized is also possible. In this case, the flare bodies are accelerated radially outward from the body of the projectile by the expulsion charge via the ignition channel.

Basically, the incorporation of an ignition channel makes it possible for only one ignition device to be needed for the several flare bodies.

Another advantage is that, with these flare bodies, sufficient illumination is provided while undesired blinding is avoided.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional side view of a projectile that contains flare bodies.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a flare body from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a scenario for the deployment of the flare bodies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a projectile 1, which consists of a projectile body 2, an expulsion charge 3 and an expulsion plate. Besides a projectile fuse 5 and a projectile base 6, the projectile 1 contains flare bodies 7 and filler elements 8. In the present case, the flare bodies 7 are positioned on two levels 14, 15. In the case illustrated here, eight flare bodies 7 are incorporated in the projectile 1. The filler elements 8 preferably form a central channel 10 in the projectile 1 for the expulsion gases, by which the delay elements 11, 12 of the flare bodies 7 are ignited.

The individual flare body 7 itself consists of a jacket 18, which houses, for example, a pyrotechnic compound 19, then, at least in this case, preferably two delay elements 11, 12 or a twin-stage delay element, an expulsion system 16, 22, and a parachute 17 (FIG. 2). A stabilizing element 13 is located on the outer jacket, but this is not absolutely necessary.

The time after which the expulsion charge 3 is to be initiated is adjusted by means of the projectile fuse 5. The range at which the battlefield illumination is to be provided is determined by the elevation of the gun (not shown), the charge selection, and the setting of the projectile fuse 5.

After expiration of the fuse setting time, the projectile fuse 5 initiates the expulsion charge 3. The combustion of the expulsion charge 3 causes pressure to be generated in the body 2 of the projectile 1 in the region of the ogive 9. This pressure acts on the expulsion plate 4 and is transmitted to the base 6 of the projectile via the flare bodies 7 and the filler elements 8. When the necessary pressure is reached, the base 6 shears off, and the flare bodies 7 as well as the filler elements 8 are expelled by the expulsion plate 4 from the rear end of the body 2 of the projectile. At about the same time that the pressure is building in the ogive 9, the combustion gases are being conveyed through the channel 10 to the delay elements 11, 12 of the flare bodies 7. The combustion gases are conveyed from the channel 10 to the delay elements 11, 12 through ignition bores 23 in the filler elements 8.

After the flare bodies 7 have been expelled from the body 2 of the projectile, they disperse, e.g., as a result of the spin of the projectile. In this case, the stabilizing elements 13 on the flare bodies 7 reduce both the spin and the speed and ensure a well-defined descent. The stabilizing elements 13 on the flare bodies 7 can be extended by the intrinsic spin of the flare bodies 7. Other possibilities for deploying the stabilizing elements 13 are available.

After expiration of the delay time, which can be set, for example, by the first delay element 11, a separating screw 16 or the like is separated, and a cover 22 is thrown off. This then allows the parachute 17 on each flare body 7 to deploy.

After expiration of the time set by the second delay element 12, the actual pyrotechnic compounds 19 are ignited. The setting times of the second delay elements 12 are different for the flare bodies 7 of the levels 14 and 15. Depending on the design of the projectile 1, the pyrotechnic compounds 19 of level 14 or 15 starts to burn first and to illuminate the battlefield 20. Due to the scattering 21 of the flare bodies 7 after their expulsion from the body 2 of the projectile, the battlefield area 20 that is illuminated is greater than the area 24 that is illuminated by an individual flare body 7. The delay elements 12 of the flare bodies 7 of the different levels 14, 15 are coordinated with one another in such a way that the pyrotechnic compounds 19 of the level 14 or 15 are ignited before the flare bodies 7 of the other level start to shine. This delay makes it possible to increase the total illumination time compared to conventional illumination systems.

It goes without saying that LEDs can be used instead of the pyrotechnic compound 19. In this case, a twin-stage delay mechanism 11, 12 in the form described above is unnecessary, since a single-stage delay mechanism is then sufficient.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited but by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims. 

1. A projectile for illuminating a ground surface or body of water, comprising: a body; flare bodies integrated in the body, wherein the flare bodies are eccentrically arranged inside the body; an expulsion charge; a projectile fuse; a projectile base; brake systems for the individual flare bodies; at least one delay element per flare body; and filler elements arranged to form an elongate central channel extending axially in the projectile and between the flare bodies so as to direct gases from the expulsion charge to the at least one delay element of the flare body to ignite the delay charge, wherein the flare bodies are ejected toward a bottom of the projectile body.
 2. The projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the expulsion charge is arranged in the body so that combustion of the expulsion charge causes pressure to be generated in the body in a region of an ogive, whereby the pressure acts on an expulsion plate, by which the flare bodies are expelled.
 3. The projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base is construed so that when a necessary pressure is reached the base shears off, and the flare bodies as well as the filler elements are expelled from a rear end of the body.
 4. The projectile in accordance claim 2, wherein, simultaneously with pressure build-up the ogive, combustion gases are conveyed through the channel to the delay elements of the flare bodies.
 5. The projectile in accordance with claim 4, wherein the filler elements have ignition bore holes through which combustion gases are conveyed from the channel to the delay elements.
 6. The projectile in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising stabilizing elements provided on the flare bodies.
 7. The projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the delay element is a twin-stage delay mechanism.
 8. The projectile in accordance with claim 7, and further comprising a separating screw on the flare body, and a cover on the flare body, wherein the separating screw is separatable from the flare body and the cover can be thrown off, so that the brake system on each flare body can deploy.
 9. A projectile for illuminating a ground surface or body of water, comprising: a body; flare bodies integrated in the body, wherein the flare bodies are eccentrically arranged inside the body; an expulsion charge; a projectile fuse; a projectile base; brake systems for the individual flare bodies; at least one delay element per flare body; and filler elements arranged to form an elongate central channel extending axially in the projectile and between the flare bodies so as to direct gases from the expulsion charge to the at least one delay element of the flare body to ignite the delay charge, wherein the flare bodies are ejected toward a bottom of the projectile body, wherein the base is construed so that when a necessary pressure is reached the base shears off, and the flare bodies as well as the filler elements are expelled from a rear end of the body.
 10. The projectile in accordance with claim 9, wherein the expulsion charge is arranged in the body so that combustion of the expulsion charge causes pressure to be generated in the body in a region of an ogive, whereby the pressure acts on an expulsion plate, by which the flare bodies are expelled.
 11. The projectile in accordance with claim 9, and further comprising stabilizing elements provided on the flare bodies.
 12. The projectile in accordance with claim 9, wherein the delay element is a twin-stage delay mechanism. 